Stu Levy

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Stuart J. Levy
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Alma materUniversity of California at Los Angeles, Georgetown University
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  • Producer
  • director
  • writer
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TitleFounder and former CEO of Tokyopop
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Stuart J. Levy (born 1967), also known by the pen name D.J. Milky, is an American entrepreneur, producer, and writer, best known as the founder of Tokyopop a media company focused on manga and related entertainment.[1][2]

Early life and education

Levy attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied economics and business.[3] He later earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1991.[4] Following his legal studies, he attended Keio University in Tokyo, where he participated in a Japanese language program.[5]

Career

Early career

In the mid-1990s, Stuart J. Levy was involved in early internet and media initiatives related to Japanese popular culture, including the creation of Japan Online (1995), an English-language web project focused on Japanese entertainment.[6] During this period, he also contributed writing on video games and Japanese media, including work associated with Electronic Gaming Monthly.[7] Through his company Tokyopop, Levy played a role in introducing and localizing Japanese manga for English-speaking audiences[8], overseeing early publications of titles such as Sailor Moon and Parasyte.[9] He also authored an early English-language novel adaptation of Sailor Moon (1999), part of Tokyopop’s efforts to expand the franchise into new formats for Western readers.

Founding of Tokyopop

In 1997, Levy founded Tokyopop (originally Mixx), which initially published serialized manga through the magazine Mixxzine.[10]

In the early 2000s, the company began publishing manga in its original right-to-left format, a departure from the standard left-to-right format used in Western comics.[8] This approach was later cited by industry observers as a factor in the growth of manga readership in North America.[1]

Tokyopop expanded distribution into U.S. retail chains, including Waldenbooks and Borders, and published a range of Japanese manga titles, including Sailor Moon, one of its most widely recognized early releases.[11] The company also launched initiatives such as Rising Stars of Manga, a competition aimed at developing original English-language manga creators.[12]

Industry activity

During the 2000s under Levy, Tokyopop became one of the larger manga publishers in the United States.[8] Coverage in publications such as The New York Times[13] and Publishers Weekly discussed the company’s role in the expansion of manga and Japanese pop culture in Western markets.[14]

Levy also expanded the company’s activities into anime distribution, music, and cross-media projects, and participated in early efforts to localize Korean comics (manhwa) for English-speaking audiences.[15]

Film and media work

Levy has worked in film and television as a producer and director. His credits include the feature film Priest (2011)[16], on which he served as an executive producer, as well as the documentaries Pray for Japan (2011)[17] and Van Von Hunter(2011), which he directed.[18]

He also co-created and wrote the manga series Princess Ai with Courtney Love. Princess Ai was the #1 graphic novel in the United States.[19]

His work The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey received nominations at the 2018 Diamond GEM Awards.[20][21]

Recent activities

Levy relocated to Berlin in 2020. In 2023, he stepped back from day-to-day operations of Tokyopop’s U.S. business while remaining involved in the company’s strategic direction.[22]

He has also been involved in international media initiatives, including a partnership with MBC Group related to anime production and distribution in the Middle East and North Africa.[23]

In 2025, Levy was featured in an episode of The Anime Business, a documentary interview series examining the history of anime and manga in international markets.[24]

Other works

Levy authored the first volume of an English-language novel adaptation of Sailor Moon (1999), part of a series published by Tokyopop that adapted the anime for younger readers.[25] [26][27] [28][29] [30][31] Under the pen name of D.J. Milky he also published novels Karma Club and Juror 13.[32]

Awards and recognition

Levy was named a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award in Greater Los Angeles.[33]

References

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  1. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Anime Business: Stu Levy on TOKYOPOP's Rise, Fall & Rebirth". bleedingcool.com. August 28, 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Vivarelli, Nick (March 29, 2023). "Middle East Broadcaster MBC Forges Partnership With Stu Levy's Tokyopop to Produce Anime Content in the Region". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Stuart Levy". Anime News Network. May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Stu Levy - Founder & CEO at TOKYOPOP". THE ORG. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Alverson, Brigid (March 2, 2022). "ICv2 Interview: Tokyopop Founder and CEO Stu Levy". ICv2. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Muscle Behind 'Manga in America'". Pop Matters. April 27, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sevakis, Justin (May 7, 2026). "An Interview with Stuart Levy". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Stu Levy and the Rise and Fall of Tokyopop". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Khouri, Andy KhouriAndy (April 15, 2011). "TOKYOPOP to Shut Down U.S. Operations in May". ComicsAlliance. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Davidson, Danica (March 7, 2023). "TOKYOPOP CEO Stu Levy Steps Back in Company". Otaku USA Magazine. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Yarde, Alex (September 10, 2025). "TOKYOPOP Founder Stu Levy Interviewed in Latest Episode of The Anime Business!". The Good Men Project. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Alverson |, Brigid. "Tokyopop Marks 25 Years: CEO Stu Levy Looks Back and Ahead". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gustines, George Gene (December 28, 2004). "Girl Power Fuels Manga Boom in U.S." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Alverson |, Brigid. "Tokyopop Marks 25 Years: CEO Stu Levy Looks Back and Ahead". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Alverson, Brigid (March 3, 2022). "Manhwa in America, Part 2: Stu Levy of Tokyopop". ICv2. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Felperin, Leslie (May 9, 2011). "Priest". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Catsoulis, Jeannette (March 16, 2012). "Chins Up After Last Year's Disaster". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2011 Awards & Fest Info". Mock Film Fest - The Mockumentary Film Festival. Archived from the original on April 3, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Princess Ai Top Adult Graphic Novel". Anime News Network. May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ceballos, Breana (January 11, 2019). "TOKYOPOP'S Nightmare Before Christmas Manga Zero's Journey Nominated for Diamond Gem Awards". NERDBOT. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2018 DIAMOND GEM Award Nominees". Newsarama. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 7, 2023). "Tokyopop Confirms Founder, CEO Stu Levy Has 'Stepped Back' From U.S. Operations". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Vivarelli, Nick (March 29, 2023). "Middle East Broadcaster MBC Forges Partnership With Stu Levy's Tokyopop to Produce Anime Content in the Region". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."AnimEigo Announces Episode 7 of Ongoing Documentary Series – The Anime Business". Anime News Network (Press release). August 27, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."EXCLUSIVE: TOKYOPOP's Stu Levy Talks Disaster Doc 'Pray for Japan'". Indie Wire. March 30, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gustines, George Gene (December 28, 2004). "Girl Power Fuels Manga Boom in U.S." The New York Times. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PRINCESS COURTNEY!". NME. July 16, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PGA National Committees: International". Producers Guild of America. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Opening ceremony of Chinese American Film Festival held in LA". China.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  30. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Meet The Stars". MEFCC. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  31. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Tokyopop's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero's Journey Nominated for Diamond Gem Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Expo, Anime (June 27, 2018). "TOKYOPOP Founder Stu Levy and Manga Artist Natalia Batista join AX 2018 as Annex Guests of Honor!". Anime Expo. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."20 Houston-area business leaders named finalists for 2024 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Gulf South". Houston Business Journal. April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2026.

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